Saskatchewan's year-long pediatric gastroenterologist vacancy has been filled

The Saskatchewan Health Authority announced the recruitment of Dr. Rabin Persad as the province's latest pediatric gastroenterologist. (Chad Hills/CTV News)

Saskatchewan kids with gastrointestinal issues are getting a specialist back at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital (JPCH).

The Government of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced the recruitment of pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Rabin Persad Tuesday, who will begin practicing in Saskatchewan beginning in October. The province has been without a specialist in this area of children’s health since last April when Dr. Simone Nicol closed her practice. However, interim doctors or locums have stepped in to fill the gap since then.

Danica Ruff shared how much this means to her and her family as her two sons — 12-year-old Jaxson and 6-year-old Benjamin — are both being treated for ulcerative colitis.

“This announcement, it means so much to us as a family who relies on the GI program for both of our two of our children. We've been through the program when there has been two doctors, we've been in the program when there's just been one locum,” she said.

• Get the CTV News app for Saskatoon area breaking news alerts and top stories 

Dr. Persad has been at the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton since 2006 and is eager to join the team in Saskatchewan

“I think over the last several years working in Edmonton, we've actually seen a lot of children from Saskatchewan, and getting the opportunity to be a part of something that's going to be sustainable is really exciting,” Dr. Persad said.

When asked about the challenges of recruiting in Saskatchewan, Dr. Persad said it’s not about money.

“Physicians are well compensated in Canada so I don’t think throwing money at people is going to make a difference, I think it’s about the opportunity to make a difference,” he says.

Provincial head of pediatrics Terry Klassen, who took over in April, has been discussing the GI program and ways to make it better into the future with Dr. Persad’s leadership.

“Saskatoon does have a central role to play, but we think of Regina, Prince Albert, Swift Current, and the other parts of the province that we need to make sure that care can be provided as close to home as possible,” he said.

Health Minister Everett Hindley said this is a continuation of work to bring more specialists to the province.

“This is the first of many, he's not the lone pediatric gastroenterologist we want to have here. We're going to continue to try to recruit to fill other vacancies,” Hindley said.

Jared Clarke, the Saskatchewan NDP critic for rural and remote health, questioned the length of time it’s taken to fill the position.

"We used to have two pediatric gastroenterologists back in 2022. So it's been a couple of years now that families have been forced to go out of province for this type of care. It's been, I think, too long. But, again, glad to see one position coming into Saskatchewan,” Clarke said.

"This is something that we've been talking about for a long time. We've had a lot of families in Saskatchewan who have been forced to find care in Toronto or in Calgary for their sick child. So, we're glad for those families who may be able to get some care in the province now," he said.

In a news release, the SHA said Dr. Persad's addition to the JPCH staff means improved access to in-patient and out-patient services, including pediatric endoscopy procedures and access to on-site consultations. The availability of these services at JPCH will lead to a smaller wait list and a reduction in the need for out-of-province specialist referrals for pediatric gastroenterology patients.